Multiple heating pad assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved heating pad unit comprising a pair of individual heating pads which may be selectively joined together and positioned one over the other to form a single twin-heat unit, or wherein the individual heating pads may be separated and used as two heating pads for positioning against different parts of a patient&#39;&#39;s body.

United States Patent inventor Mickey S. Jordan 4371 Glenwood Road Apt. C-l, Decatur, Ga. 30032 Appl. No. 21,294

Filed Mar. 20, 1970 Patented Jan. 11, 1972 MULTIPLE HEATING PAD ASSEMBLY 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 219/527, 174/69, 200/51 LM, 219/212, 219/524, 219/528, 219/477 Int. Cl H051) 3/06 Field of Search 219/527529,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,973 2/1929 Gehrs 219/527 X 1,837,117 12/1931 Dunbar 219/528 X 2,318,109 .5/1943 Schultz..... 219/524 2,842,655 7/1958 Schwebel. 219/527 3,013,141 12/1961 Ellis 219/524 FOREIGN PATENTS 931,203 7/1963 Great Britain 219/528 938,213 10/1963 Great Britain... 219/528 1,047,210 7/1953 France 219/528 Primary Examinr- Volodymyr Y. Mayewsky An0rneyJones & Thomas ABSTRACT: An improved heating pad unit comprising a pair of individual heating pads which may be selectively joined together and positioned one over the other to form a single twin-heat unit, or wherein the individual heating pads may be separated and used as two heating pads for positioning against different parts of a patients body.

PATENTEU JAN! 1 m2 31634555 Midway fgm'da/n .MULTIPLE HEATING PAD ASSEMBLY This invention relates generally to heating pads.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved heating pad assembly which is selectively adjustable to be used either as a single twin-heat unit or as a pair of separate individual heating pads positioned against different parts of the body at the same time. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved heating pad assembly which includes two heating pads and a single control unit that can control temperatures to each heating pad whether they are used individually or doubled together as a single twin-heat unit.

Still another object is to provide an improved heating pad wherein the individual heating pads are each detachable from the control unit, so that the device can be used with only one individual heating pad, to thereby eliminate handling the other pad.

Still a further object is to provide an improved heating pad wherein the extension cords leading to the individual heating pads and to a male plug are retractable upon rewind reels located in the control unit, so to be neatly stored when not in use.

Other objects are to provide an improved heating pad assembly which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multiple heating pad assembly with the pads connected to each other in overlapping relationship.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the control unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. I, but showing the pads opened apart and detached from each other.

FIG. 4 is a view of a modified form of the invention with the pad units being connectable to the control unit by means of plug elements.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified design with retractable cords.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view thereof showing the retractable cord reels in the control unit.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, and more particularly at this time to FIG. 1 to 3, the reference numeral 10 represents an improved heating pad assembly according to the present invention, wherein there is a twin-heat unit 11 comprised of a pair of individual heating pads 12 and 13 each of which is connected by an extension cord 14 to a manually controlled integral control unit 15; the control unit being connected by an extension cord 16 to a male plug 17 receivable within a house electric outlet socket.

The heating pad units 12 and 13 are attachable together by a connecting means, such as by a peripheral slide fastener 18 so that the pads can be separated (FIG. 3) or can be placed in folded out to form a large heating surface (not shown).

.The control unit has pushbuttons 19 in two rows 20 and 2!; each row of buttons controlling temperature to one of the heating pads. Conventional electrical heating wires between appropriate insulation mats (not shown) are used in the heating pad constructions.

In operative use it is now evident that the pads can be connected together and used as a twin-heat unit as shown in FIG.

l, or the pads can be separated as shown onFIG. 2 so to heat different parts of the body at the same time.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of the invention shows a control unit 22 having female openings 23 for receiving the plugs of the pads to permit disengaging one or both of the heating pads 24 from the entire assembly so that the assembly is more convenient to handle if only one heating pad 25 is necessary to use. Also, the control unit of FIG. 4 can be used with other heating pads (not shown) which are shaped for special use, as long narrow pads for wrapping about an arm, leg or neck, etc. Moreover, if a heating pad becomes wet, damaged, or otherwise unsuitable for use, it can be unpltgged and replaced.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 another modified orm of the invention includes a control unit 26 having spring-urged reels 27 therewithin so that the extension cords 28 and 29 to the individual heating pads and the cord 30 to the male plug can be reeled up when not in use so as to not dangle and become entangled with other objects.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim:

I. A heating pad assembly comprising a pair of flat heating pads similar in size and shape, electrical heating wires in each heating pad, a slide fastener connected to the mutual edges of both of said heating pads and arranged to fasten said heating pads at several of their mutual edges in overlapping relationship, or to fasten said heating pads along an adjacent edge of each heating pad in an open flat spread relationship, or to release the heating pads from each other, an electrical extension cord connected to said electrical heating wires and extending from each heating pad, a single heat control device connected to each of the electrical extension cords, an electrical power cord connected to said heat control device for connection to a source of electrical, power, said heat control device being constructed and arranged to individually control the heat intensity emitted from each of said heating pads, and said heat control device including means for retracting electrical power cord.

2. The heating pad assembly of claim I and wherein each of said electrical extension cords extending between each of said heating pads and said heat control device include two prong plug connectors connected to said heat control device. 

1. A heating pad assembly comprising a pair of flat heating pads similar in size and shape, electrical heating wires in each heating pad, a slide fastener connected to the mutual edges of both of said heating pads and arranged to fasten said heating pads at several of their mutual edges in overlapping relationship, or to fasten said heating pads along an adjacent edge of each heating pad in an open flat spread relationship, or to release the heating pads from each other, an electrical extension cord connected to said electrical heating wires and extending from each heating pad, a single heat control device connected to each of the electrical extension cords, an electrical power cord connected to said heat control device for connection to a source of electrical power, said heat control device being constructed and arranged to individually control the heat intensity emitted from each of said heating pads, and said heat control device including means for retracting electrical power cord.
 2. The heating pad assembly of claim 1 and wherein each of said electrical extension cords extending between each of said heating pads and said heat control device include two prong plug connectors connected to said heat control device. 